Sparking igniter.



L. H[ WATTLES. SPARKING IGNITER. APPLICATION FILED .mnn1,-191o.

9 990,935,, 9 Patented May 2,1911.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1. y 7.2 65 1/ L. H. WATTLES.

' SPARKING IGNITER. ABPLIUAI'ION FILED- JUNE}, 1910.

. Patented May 2, 1911.

L. H. WA-TTLBS. SPARKINGIGNITBR. APPLICATION FILED JUNEI, 1910.

, Patented May-2, 1911 3 BHEETBSHEET 3.

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LUTHER; HJ-wA'r'rLns, or rnovrnnncn, RHODE ISLAND, ASSIGNPR or ounHALE r MATIEC. msssnnn, or rnwrocxnr, RHODE Isnarm.

SPARKING IGlNITER.

access.

4 Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 2, 19111.

Application filed June 1, '1910. Serial in, 59mm.

4 To all whom it may concern- Be it known that I, LUTHER H. W'arrms, a citizen ofthe United States, residing at drovidcnce, in the county of Providence and 5 State of Rhode Island, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sparking Igniters, ofwhich the following is;

a specification.

Myinvention relates to sparking ignition devices for internal combustion engines. In

' my prior Patent- No'. 909,264: issued Jan. 12, l109,'is shown a device of this character \vherein a sparking current is generated by the unignited compressed engine charge.

I The essential objects of the present invcntion are, to regulate the instant of sparking; to secure a maximum efliciency of the engine c large; to prevent, When starting the engine, injury to the operator due to the 2 initial expansion of the compressed charge while manipulating the fly wheel to afford a positive and direct electrical communication between the electrodesand the magneto armature; to cushion the outward stroke of the piston; to make it possible to dispense with elaborate mechanism for returning the pistonto original position, and to dispense form a part of this specification and in which like reference characters indicate like parts throughout the views, Figures 1, 2, and :3, are front, side and bottom plan views res -ieetively of my novel apparatus mounted 45 in'the side of an engine cylinder, showing in Fig. 1 also a usual engine valve operating mechanism, Fig. 4, a'bottom plan view of the plug, Figs. 5, 6, and 7, sections on line to, w, a w, and y, 1 of Fig. 2, Fig. 8, a 50 section on line 2, z, of Fitg. 6, Fig. 9, a. sid

elevation of an upright o' combustion engine equipped with my device, and Figs. 10 and 11, detail views of modi V tied means for actuating the piston locking member.

form a chamber 36.

ur cycle interna In the illustrated construction the engine comprises a cylinder or casting 1', exhaust valve,2,' crank shaft 3, fly wheel 4, and the usual valve operatingmechanism, consisting,

of the valve le'ver 6, valve connecting rod 7, cam lever 8, stud 10, cam roll 11, cam lever spring 12, cam 13 integral Witli'driven gear crank lever 17 upon its stud 18, connecting bell crank lever 19 pivoted on stud 20' and it loose on studlfi, driving gear 16, bell whose forked arm 21 engages lever 17 and whose other arm 22 is connected with the sliding sleeve 23, controlled by the fly ball governor-.25. It is in conjunction with the above described familiar parts that my novel device is this instance set forth.

My device comprises a plug 27 extending into an opening 28 in the casting l-to which it is engaged in any convenient manner with its end face exposed in the compression area of the combustion chamber 29. In the present instance the plug is provided with an external flange 30 with perforations 31 for screws 32 entering threaded openings 33 in the castingand secured by nuts 34:; The plug 27 preferably extends beyond the face of/the casting and is longitudinally bored to Fined Within the plug and insulated therefrom is an electrode 37,

and axially movable in the plug is the grounded electrode 38 having its outer end extending beyond. the face of the plug and provided with a contact arm 39 withinthe combustion chamber; Integral Wither fixed to the outer end of the electrode 38 is a col lar 40 provided with a peripheral'lug 41. A spring 42 surrounding the electrode has its ends fixed in the collar and in the plug re? spectively: Mounted in the chamber 36'is'a piston 45 provided with a beveled outer end at 46. I A connecting rod"?! connects the piston through a crank pin 48 with a crank arm 49 fixed to an armature shaft 50 of an electric generator supported by a bracket arm 51 fixed to the plug.

The generator or magneto may be of any usual construction and in this instance comprises horse shoe magnets 53surroui1ding a core 54 hose armature 50 has an upper vertical bea ing 57 provided with a flange orbase 58 fixed to the top of the magnets. The lower end of the armatureshaft is ournaled in a bee g 60 provided With a flange 61 ii to bottom of the magnets, and pro with an opening 63 in its side wall.

Fixed to or inte ral with the u) er end of broken to create a s ark in the combustion the shaft 50 is a collar 65. The exterior of the bearing 57 has threads 66. An annular disk 67 has threads 68 engaging threads 66 and is provided with a threaded perforation (39 to receive a thumb screw 70 whose end engages the flange 58. Surrounding the bearing 57 is. a spring end 72 is fixed to the collar 65, and. whose lower end 73 is fixed to the disk 67. One terminal 75 of the winding is grounded in the core while the other terminal 76 is formed in a loose spiral around the shaft 50 and passes through the opening 63 to the binding post 77 upon the outer end of the electrode 37, thus completing the circuit through the sparking finger 39 and thence backthrough the magneto to the armature. In order to limit excessive travel of the crank arm 49 a block 78 fixed to the side of the bearing 60 extends into the path of lugs 79 and 79 upon the arm. The outward stroke of the piston .is in this instance cushioned by a curved spring 80 fixed to the block 78 and whose free endis in thepath of the arm 49. The spring 80 may be omitted when the spring 71 is sufliciently stiff. A member for actuating the electrode 38, as shown in Fig. 5, consists of a lever of the first principle 82 pivoted by a pin 83 to the outer face of the plug 27 and comprises an arm 841- in the path of the beveled portion of thcpiston 45, and an arm 85 in contact with the lug 41 upon the collar of the electrode 38.

A piston locking member, best shown in Fig. 8, comprises a cam shaped or offset flat head 86 and a shank or handle 87. This member is ecccntrically mounted upon a pivot 88 in the plugand moves in a slot 89 opening into the chamber 36 and transversely thereof. l'Vhen the shank 87 is in normal or vertical position the head 86 is out of tlie' path of the piston 45, but when the shank is elevated the head intersects the path of the piston and prevents the outward stroke of the latter. This arm may be elevated manually at will to the position shown injbroken lines in Fig. 1, where it is frictionally held, until released and permitted to fall into vertical position. The release is effected either manually or by any convenient device attached to the engine driven mechanism. Such a device consists of a vertically adjustable sleeve 91 clamped by an adjusting screw 93 to the reciprocating connecting rod 7 and provided with a laterally projecting pin 94 in the path of the shank 87.

The operation of my device is as follows. The unignited compressed engine charge in the combustion chan'iber Q9 inipels the armature piston 45 outwardly with great force partially rotating the armature shaft 50 at .a high rate of speed thus generating a current in the electric circuit. This circuit is 71 whose upper chamber by the contact of the piston 4.5, in

its outward travel, with the lever arm 89.v

which through arm 85 partially rotates the electrode 38 thereby swinging the arm 39 out of contact with electrode 37. The electrode is returned by the sp'ring'42,and the piston, by the spring 71. It will benoted that in the present instance the terminal 7 6 runs directly from the winding to the electrode without the intervention of a brush or any moving contact whereby a more positive electrical effect is secured.

In order. to utilize the maximum power of the charge provision is made for regulating the instant of sparkingrelatively to the po-' sition of the engine crank, so that when the engine is running at high speed the sparking will occur earlier; andwhen at a low speed, later. These results are respectively secured by manually turning thedisk 67 upwardly or downwardly to increase or decrease the tension of the spring 71. This ad uStment can be made while the engine is inopcration. The screw 70 binds the disk in adjusted position.

To avoid accident in starting the engine the magneto is held out of operative position by manually elevating the handle 87, thereby checking the advance of the piston 15 (hiring the initial compression revolution of the fiy wheel, after which the handle 87 is returned to normal vertical position either manually or automatically thereby releasing the armature. piston. y

In some engines it is desirable to elevate the shank 87 automatically rather than manually. In variable quantity engines alternate strokes of the engine piston produce varying degrees of compression. In such case regularity of movement of the armature piston 45 is insured by the continuous vibration of the shank 87. I prefer for this purpose a device like that shown-in. Fig. 10 comprising interspaced pins 94- and 96 which loosely engage therebetween the shank 87 which is vibrated'by the rod 7'. The sleeve I 91 is adjustable upon the valve operating rod 7 by the screw 93, but in some instances a preferable adjusting means is that shown in Fig. 11, where this 'means consists of thumb nuts 98 and 99 threaded to the rod 7 above and below the sleeve 91 whereby the sleeve may operating.

\Vhat I claim is,-

I 1. In an electric sparking ignition mechbe adjusted while the engine is anisni, the combinationlwith an engine eylinder and an ignition circuit, of an electric generator comprising an armature shaft in the circuit, and a bearing in which the armature is mounte'd, means actuated by the charge in the cylinder for imparting a gen-' crating throw to the armature-Shaft, and a spring mounted upon the bearing and ensconce der and an ignition circuit, of an electric generator.comprising an armature shaft-in the circilia'and a bearing inivhich the in mature is iii-minted, ineansactuated by the charge in the cylinder for iniparting a gen- -erating throw to the armature shaft, a spring mounted on the bearmg-andengaging the shaft, and means ionvarying the tension of the spring.

3. In an electric sparking ignition mecha nism, the combinationwith an engine cylinder and an ignition. circuit, of an electric generator comprising an armature shaft in the circuit, and a bearing Which the armature is mounted, means actuatedby the charge in'the cylinder for im'partin a gen-- erating throw to the armature sha a ro tatably adjustable member mounted'upon the bearing, and a spring upon thebearing engaging both the shaft and the adjustable e rr e 4. In an electric sparking ignition mechanism, the combination withanengine cylinture is mounted, means actuated by the charge in the cylinder for imparting a generating throw to the armature shaft, a rotader and" an ignition circuit,of an electric tablyadjustable member mounted upon the bearing, a spring upon the bearing engaging both the shaft and the adjustable member, and meansupon the adjustable member for maintaining said member in adjustable position.

5. In an electric sparking ignition mech- .anism, the combination with an engine cylinder, and a gen'eratorvh'aving an armature shaft, of a spark plug in the cylinder pro- I engaging the projection upon th vided with a piston chamberopening into the cylinder, a piston in the chamber, driving connections'between the piston and armature shaft, and means upon the generator and engaging the armature shaft for return ing the piston to originalposition after each stroke.

- 6. In an electric sparking ignition mechanism, the combination with. an engine cylinder, of a spark plug-in the cylinder provided with a piston chamber opening into the cyiindei, a piston in the piston chamber, a fixed electrode in the plug, an axially movable electrode mounted in the plug';--an arm on the second electrode normally in' contact with the first electrode, a projection upon the second electrode, a lever provided with vtwo arms pivotally mounted upon the plug, one of the lever arms extending normally in the path of the piston, and the other lever arm electronic.

7. In an electric sparking ignition mechanisrn, the combination with an engine cylinder. and a generator having an armature shaft and bearing, of a spark plug-in the with a piston chamber cylinder provided opening snto the cylinder, a piston in the chamber, a crank upon the armature shaft, a rod connecting the piston and cranln'a lug upon the crank, and a block upon the in the path of the lug. I

8. In an electric sparking ignition mechanisn the combination with an engine cylinder, and a generator having an armature shaft and bearing, oil" a spark plug in the cylinder provided with a piston chamber opening into the cylinder, a piston in the chamber, a crank upon the armatureshaft, a rod connecting the piston and crank, and a spring fixed to the bearing and extending into the path of the crank.

9. In an electric sparking ignition mechanism, the combination with an engine cylinder, of a spark plug in the cylinder provided with a piston chamber openinginto the cylinder, an axially movable electrode. mounted in the plug, a piston inthe piston chamber, means for driving the piston, means actuated by thepi'ston for rotating the electrode, and means in the plug for looking the piston against movement.

10. In an electric sparking ignition mechanism, the combination with an engine cylinder, an ignition circuit, and an electric generator having an armature shaft, (if a bearing piston operatively connectedwith the generat-or armature shaft anda'ctuat'ed by the jcharge in the cylinder, and means for looking the piston against movement.

'11, In an electric sparking ignition -m'ech.

anism, the combination with the engine cylinder, the generator, the armature shaft, and the ignition circuit of a spark plug mounted in the cylinder and provided With a piston chamber communicating with the cylinder, a piston in the chamber, driving connections between the piston and the arnia- .ture shaft, a swinging locking member mounted in the plug and movable into the path of the piston and means for actuating the locking member.

12. In an electric sparking ignition mechanism, the combination with the engine cylinder, of a spark plug mounted in the oyl lnder and provided with a piston chamber communicating with the cylinder, and pron vided with a transverse slot opening into the piston chamber, a piston in the piston chamber adapted to be actuated by acornpressed charge in the. cylinder, and a piston locking member .pivotally mounted in the plug comprising a broad head located in the slot, and a shank upon the head extending outside, the plug.

13. In an electric sparking ignition'mech- 'anism, the combination Wini the engine cylinder, the valve connecting 1Qd,.tho

" a piston chamber communicating with the cylinder, a piston in the chamber operatively connected-With the generator, a piston locklng member pivotally connected mtermed1-- ateits length with the plug comprising a head movable into the path 01' the piston and a shank extending from the plug, and a projection carried by the valve connecting rod in the path of the shank.

14. In an electric sparking ignition mechanism, the combination with the engine cyl inder, the valve connecting-rod, the generator, and the ignition circuit, of a spark plug mounted in the cylinder and provided with a piston chamber conmulnicatina' with the cylinder, a piston in the chamber operatively connected with the generator, a piston lockmg member pivotally connected intermediate its length with the plug comprising a head movable into the pathof the piston,

and a shank extending .from the plug, 'a sleeve upon the valve connecting rod, means upon the rod adapted to engage the shank of the locking membenand means for adjusting the sleeve.

In testimony whereof I have aflixed my signature in presence of two witnesses. v

LUTHER H.- WA TLEs;

Witnesses HORATIO E. BELLOWS, WALTER LoUIs Fnos'r'. 

